Transitioning to Kindergarten

We believe early childhood education is key to life-long success. Our Catholic elementary schools offer an inclusive learning environment for children ages four and five.  Our Kindergarten program focuses on inquiry and play-based learning which contributes to the overall development of the child.

Four Areas of Learning

Our Kindergarten program is based on four broad learning areas:

• Belonging and Contributing;
• Self-Regulations and Well-Being;
• Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours; and
• Problem Solving and Innovating.

These areas focus on aspects of learning that are critical to your child's development.  They also reflect the integrated way in which your child will learn through play and inquiry in our classrooms.  To learn more about theses areas, visit the Ontario Ministry of Education. Adapted from The Kindergarten Program 2016 (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2016, p. 8)

Watch our video to find out how are students become capable, confident and curious learners.

Kindergarten Registration 2020-2021

You are invited to register your child for Kindergarten at one of our Durham Catholic schools across the region. Students eligible to attend Kindergarten in September 2020,  must be turning four years of age by December 31, 2020. Use our school locator tool to find your designated Catholic school in your area. 

Online registration is now open for the 2020-2021 school year. Register online by clicking here.  For questions, email admissions@dcdsb.ca. Once you have completed the on-line registration process, please contact your school to complete your registration. 

In accordance with the Durham Catholic District School Board Policy PO428 – Exception to School Attendance Areas, parents and guardians may have a need or legitimate reason for wanting a child to attend a school other than their designated home school. In such cases the online registration will be directed to the school they have chosen. 

Admission to an out of boundary school is subject to approval by the designated home school principal and out-of-boundary school principal. The application will initially be processed by the designated home school and then processed by the school requested.  Applications will be approved in accordance with Board Policy and where space permits. Please note that the following schools are currently identified as having limited available space for 2020-2021:

• St. Patrick Catholic School, Ajax
• St. James Catholic School, Ajax
• St. Josephine Bahkita Catholic School, Ajax
• St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School, Oshawa 

• St. Christopher Catholic School, Oshawa
• St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, Whitby 

As such, approval for exception to school attendance areas at these schools may be limited. Please note that transportation will not be provided for an-out-of boundary school.

Frequently asked questions